Gateway of Immortality

Fragrance filled the room.

The Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid bloomed brilliantly, its petals radiant with dew.

Qin Sang sat by the jade pool, absentmindedly trailing his fingers through the spring water, lost in thought as he recalled his earlier conversation with Wandering Man.

Restoring his foundation was only one of the Purple Cloud Fruit's many effects. For other cultivators, especially demonic beasts, such a natural treasure was something they would stop at nothing to obtain.

Wandering Man had discovered a vague lead while at the sect. The Taiyi Core Sect had always paid close attention to every kind of spiritual herb; whether rumors were true or not, they would gather information and investigate.

To verify it, Wandering Man had first hidden himself for several years within the Yuling Sect's stronghold at Immortal Demon City.

Immortal Demon City was the largest immortal cultivation city closest to Heavenly Demon Hill within the Small Cold Domain. It was said to be built with the support of Heavenly Demon Hill and served as a bridge between the demonic beasts and the immortal cultivators of the Small Cold Domain.

This alone showed how close the Yuling Sect was to Heavenly Demon Hill.

In the end, Wandering Man had even joined a merchant caravan and infiltrated Heavenly Demon Hill several times. Though he spoke lightly of it, Qin Sang could easily imagine how perilous those experiences must have been.

Since ancient times, humans and demons had struggled to coexist not merely because of prejudice.

Thus, it had taken Wandering Man all these years to finally confirm the existence of the Purple Cloud Fruit. Yet the exact details would only become clear once they saw it with their own eyes.

Wandering Man had agreed to accompany Qin Sang first, then pursue his own business afterward.

Even with Wandering Man's help, Qin Sang felt uneasy.

Demonic Core Realm beasts from Heavenly Demon Hill were not the same as those ignorant, brutish beasts that lived in savage mountains and rivers.

Any beast that could acquire Imperial Elixir and awaken spiritual wisdom had an extraordinary background, almost certainly with a legacy from a great demon. In both strength and intelligence, they were no less than human Core Formation cultivators and could not be underestimated.

Even the flying yaksha alone would stand little chance against a single Demonic Core Realm demon, let alone multiple ones drawn by the Purple Cloud Fruit.

In such a situation, even trying to fish in troubled waters required significant strength.

The place where the Purple Cloud Fruit grew was sure to be heavily contested. Without Core Formation strength, sneaking in under the noses of Demonic Core Realm beasts would be nearly impossible.

Because of this, Wandering Man had advised Qin Sang to adjust his mindset. This time, their goal in entering the Ziwei Palace was primarily to locate the Purple Cloud Fruit's position and investigate the surrounding barriers.

Once he successfully broke through to the Core Formation Realm and his lifespan extended to five hundred years, he would surely live to see the next opening of the Ziwei Palace. With careful preparation in the meantime, their chances of seizing the fruit would be far greater.

But who could say when the next opening would occur?

The opening times of the Ziwei Palace were not fixed, tied closely to the fluctuations of the Spirit Tide at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

Sometimes it opened after just a century; other times, three hundred years might pass. That would mean enduring the entire Core Formation Realm with a damaged foundation—a grim prospect.

Of course, if he could break through to the Core Formation Realm before the Ziwei Palace opened this time, everything would change.

He, along with two astras and the flying yaksha, would at least have the qualifications to stand his ground.

Sigh...

Qin Sang tilted his head back and gazed at the ceiling of the cave dwelling, slowly exhaling a deep breath. Then he gathered his scattered thoughts, preventing them from clouding his mind and potentially becoming an obstacle during Core Formation.

Thanks to the spiritual spring, the cave's spiritual power was incredibly dense. Even for a Core Formation cultivator, it was more than enough to support cultivation.

There was no need to arrange a spirit-gathering array.

Qin Sang sealed the barriers around the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid, then laid down a meditation cushion beside the jade pool and sat cross-legged, entering a state of stillness.

Over the past few years, whenever he returned to the sect, Qin Sang had visited Treasure Tower Peak, where he carefully studied every ancient text related to Core Formation.

If he had the chance to consult Qi Yuanshou, he never missed it.

Unfortunately, not every visit resulted in a meeting. Over the years, he had only been received twice.

From Qi Yuanshou's disciple, Gao Yang, Qin Sang learned that Qi Yuanshou seemed to be preparing for the opening of the Ziwei Palace as well, and no longer handled sect affairs personally.

Qin Sang had thoroughly prepared for Core Formation. Thus, after reaching the Fake Core Realm, there was no need to return to the sect. He could directly enter seclusion.

After reaching Fake Core Realm, Qin Sang had traveled extensively and even engaged in a fierce battle against Daoist Jiupao, which had greatly stabilized his cultivation.

Now, after three months of closed-door meditation, Qin Sang slowly awoke from his deep concentration.

He used his inner vision.

His Qihai was full, his spiritual power calm and steady.

His mind was clear, and his spiritual consciousness was vast and powerful.

The Fake Core Realm represented the complete perfection of the Foundation Building Realm. At this point, there was no further advancement possible; only the step to form the Golden Core remained.

And indeed, it was so.

After breaking through to the Fake Core Realm, no matter how hard Qin Sang tried during this period, his cultivation could no longer advance in the slightest. He was firmly stuck at the bottleneck, once again tasting the bitter frustration of being constrained by limits.

If he had a Heavenly Spiritual Root, he would now be able to easily forge his Golden Core. Qin Sang could only envy such fortune.

Over these three months, he had refined the spiritual power within his Qihai to the utmost, smoothing out every trace of restlessness in his heart.

When he awoke, he calmly swept his gaze around the cave dwelling, then lowered his head and stared at his dantian for a long while before closing his eyes once more.

In his mind, he carefully reviewed the records he had studied at Treasure Tower Peak, going over them again and again. He also reflected on everything Qi Yuanshou had ever told him, no matter how minor or seemingly irrelevant.

Then, Qin Sang began his first attempt at Core Formation.

He did not immediately use any auxiliary spiritual items, but instead tried to form the Core through his own power alone.

If by some miracle he succeeded, that would be the best outcome. However, Qin Sang understood that such a possibility was almost nonexistent. His true aim was to accumulate firsthand experience, to integrate all that he had learned and seen.

Perhaps, when it came time to refine the spirit medicines, he could raise his chances of success, even by a little.

Currently, he only had the Kanli Golden Pill, the Snow Spirit Lotus, and the Iris Flower in hand—each precious beyond measure. He had to proceed with the utmost caution.

At the bottom of a great swamp, deep within the layers of silt...

The cave dwelling remained hidden from sunlight, untouched by the passage of time.

Within the silent darkness, Qin Sang sat as still as an ancient pine, unmoving. Even his aura showed scarcely a ripple. For several months, it seemed as if no change had occurred at all.

At last, Qin Sang stirred slightly and awakened from his meditation.

Just as he had expected.

Throughout this time, despite relentlessly cycling his cultivation arts, he had felt not the slightest sign of spiritual power condensing into a Golden Core. He had no choice but to face the truth: with his aptitude, trying to form a Golden Core through sheer effort alone was no better than a fool's dream.

It was simply impossible. Not even the so-called "experience" he had hoped to gain had amounted to anything.

He had wasted several months of precious time without the slightest harvest.

But Qin Sang had long anticipated this outcome. His mental state remained calm and unshaken, free of disappointment. He was able to regard it all with composure.

It was clear that he had no choice but to take the Kanli Golden Pill and attempt Core Formation with its aid.

Without immediately returning to meditation, Qin Sang rose and quietly left the cave dwelling, making his way back to the small island.

Finding no message left behind by Wandering Man, he then returned to the cave dwelling once more.

He and Wandering Man had agreed that if the Ziwei Palace were to suddenly open during this time, a Sound Transmission Talisman would be left on the island to notify him.